Literacy and Technology

Technology can help students understand a lesson better. Technology enhanced an experience. When using technology students are more inclined to become intrigued in the lesson because of it. Videos, audio and pictures help convey a stronger concrete image for the student to base their understanding off of. For my lesson, I have chosen a lesson that I had previously used in a classroom as well as for another literacy class. This lesson is based off of a scholastic magazine. The magazine (with a district subscription) comes with an online resource with videos, pictures and audio to help enhance the article. The online quizzes too are a great formative assessment as well! Students love to read the article and view the pictures and videos. It is a conversation started and draws a lot of real world experiences which creates a more meaningful classroom environment for the students to learn in. The lesson is below. I have seen success with this simple lesson in todays classroom.

Candidate’s Name: Karla Robles                                                        

Grade Level: 5

Title of the lesson: Makoko

Length of the lesson: 1 hour

Central focus:   After reading the scholastic news article, students will write a pen-pal letter to a student in Makoko school. Students will write letters talking about American and Nigerian education and how they’re schools are similar or different. Students would also need to think of two questions they would like to ask their Nigerian student pen-pal. The letters must have a proper greeting and introduction. Students will also make sure their letter has coherent and proper writing with an appropriate ending (sincerely, hope to hear from you soon, your friend). Students will need a ven diagram for comparing and contrasting information a rough draft for their letter and their final letter A virtual issue of the scholastic news article will be accessed to enhance lesson with videos of a Makoko school and village

Knowledge of students to inform teaching: Students will understand how education around the world is different. Students will have insight to how students in Africa learn and where they go to schools and how it compares to their own American school.

Common Core State Standards:              2.L.6 Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using adjectives and adverbs to describe (e.g., When other kids are happy that makes me happy). Reading: Literature 2.RL.1 Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text. 2.RL.2 Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral. 2.RL.5 Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action. Speaking & Listening 2.SL.2 Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.          Goal 2: The learner will develop and apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.                   Objective 2.06: Recall main ideas, facts and details from a text.          Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.                   Objective 3.04: Increase oral and written vocabulary by listening, discussing, and composing texts when responding to literature that is read and heard. (e.g., read aloud by teacher, literature circles, interest groups, book clubs).          Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.                   Objective 4.07: Compose first drafts using an appropriate writing process:                                                               planning and drafting.                                                               rereading for meaning.                                                               revising to clarify and refine writing with guided discussion.                   Objective 4.09: Use media and technology to enhance the presentation of information to an audience for a specific purpose.

Support literacy development through language (academic language) Compare and contrast American and Nigerian Makoko schools. Do what is the same? What is different? What are something’s you've learned from writing this letter? Do you think schools in other countries are different from Nigeria? From American schools?

Learning objectives 1.     Learn new vocabulary words to enhance reading comprehension and daily vocabulary. 2.     Students will have prior knowledge of letter writing and appropriate grammar and punctuations. 3.     Students would have read the scholastic article in the previous days as well as had classroom discussions about the article

Instructional procedure: ·      Ask prompt question ·      Introduce lesson, recall scholastic article by rereading the article, using online experience to enhance the lesson by playing videos that accompany the article ·      Ask essential questions when needed ·      Have students complete a ven diagram as a class ·      Review letter writing (structure, greeting, body and closing) ·      Have students work on rough draft ·       Review and edit, then work on final draft

Instructional resources: •  Materials and resources: •  http://sni.scholastic.com/SN5/02_02_15_SN5/book#/6 •  Technology resources: •    IE Explorer

Reflection How does the online source enhance this lesson? Does using the online resource help students understand the article better?